#1 – A Quest Is Ordered

ANNABETH

Annabeth sighed as Chiron shook his head. Putting an arm on her shoulder, he apologised, "Sorry, my dear, but I cannot tell you anything." Annabeth huffed in frustration. A few weeks had passed since the gods had went silent, and her mentor still refused to reveal anything to the demigods. No matter how many times she or the others asked him, his answer was still no.

Shuffling out of the Big House, Annabeth's shoulders drooped in disappointment. Just when she had thought that she and her mum had been getting closer, the gods just had to ruin their relationship and close the gates. Trapped in her thoughts, Annabeth ran into someone.

"Hey, Princess! Watch where you're going!" Clarisse shouted.

Annabeth scowled, "Whatever." Softer, she mumbled, "Grumpy, just like her dad.

Clarisse roared, "What did you say? I challenge you to a duel!"

"Look. Clarisse, I really don't have time for this. I–" Before Annabeth could get a whole sentence out, she found a sword pointing at her throat. Clarisse stared her down, sneering, "Scared of losing, Princess?"

Annabeth smirked, "Well, if you put it that way..." Annabeth kicked Clarisse in the stomach, dodging a swipe of her knife. Clarisse backed away for a moment before charging at Annabeth, her sword raised.

Thoughts whirled through Annabeth's mind like they always did during a battle, calculating and analysing her opponent's moves. Having fought with and against Clarisse before, Annabeth knew that Clarisse had all the brute strength, but less of the brains. Whereas Annabeth had all the brains and agility, but no weapon.

As the celestial bronze sword came down on her, Annabeth executed a well-placed kick on the hilt of the sword, which was in Clarisse's hands. In a cry of pain, Clarisse released the sword, which flew through the air. Using her skills, Annabeth extended a hand and caught the sword, aiming it at Clarisse who was on the ground.

After a few seconds, Annabeth placed the sword on the ground and walked over to her friend. She helped Clarisse up, laughing, "That's 3 out of 3 that I've won, Clarisse." Clarisse pouted slightly, but shook Annabeth's hand, then ran off to the hall to train.

Wiping a hand across her forehead, Annabeth checked for any wounds. A slight nick from the sword here and there on her clothes, but no blood. She trudged back towards the Athena Cabin, all the discontent from earlier on dissipating the adrenaline from the battle.

When she entered the cabin, Annabeth realised that all her cabin mates were crowded around her bed.

"What's going on?" she asked curiously. Annabeth squeezed her way through the tightly packed demigods, pushing her way to the front. A sphere of light was floating over her bed, hanging in mid-air.

A lilting voice flowed out of the ball of light, like the rushing water of a pure stream, "My children, gather the demigods, gather all of them. Quickly. I don't have much time before Zeus senses that I am communicating with you."

"Mum!" Annabeth exclaimed in delight. Finally, her prayers had been answered. She pointed to her brothers and sisters, "Go get the campers. I'll bring the light to the main square." Nodding, her siblings raced out of the door like the wind, ready to notify all the campers.

Turning to the sphere, Annabeth asked, "Mum, why has Olympus been closed?" A sigh could be heard, "I'm afraid that I do not know. Zeus may have had an overreaction, but even Hera cannot persuade him to reopen the gates." Frowning, Annabeth nodded, "He should know that closing the gates didn't work the last time."

A chuckled was emitted from the ball of light, "Yes, my dear. But this is how I think we can fix it. Come, let us go to the main square."

Annabeth walked to the main square with the 'Athena Ball' floating behind her. Campers who saw her started whispering and goggling at her. Ignoring them, she shouted, "All campers gather in the square. We have a message from the goddess Athena."

At that, the campers hustled into the main foyer. At the Train Demigod station, demigods from Camp Jupiter alighted from the train. I saw Reyna and Frank, the two praetors, depart, talking rapidly in low voices. Hazel was right behind them.

Hazel had recently tunneled a path from Camp Half-Blood, linking it to Camp Jupiter, and Leo had installed tracks for a train to move. It was called Freight Train Demigod, Train Demigod for short. This made travelling in between camps much easier.

Nico had summoned some skeletons, whom Piper had charmspeaked into serving demigods and driving the train. Percy had provided an endless supply of water and drinks for anyone, while Jason installed invisible AC, air-conditioner.

As for the food, the Demeter kids had taken care of that. The Hecate cabin had cast some spells to make Train Demigod travel at centaur speed, which made the trip shorter, and only a mere 2-3 hours. In addition, Leo had made the walls of the train monster-proof, like on the Argo II.

Annabeth guessed that the Hecate kids had probably cast more magic to make the train move even faster to just 5 minutes.

When all demigods had eventually arrived at the square, the place was packed. The ball of light rose into the air, casting a dull glow. Athena's voice was loud and clear, strong like a ruler's.

"This is the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, speaking. Zeus has closed the Gates of Olympus for a reason that none of us know. Hera has been unable to persuade him otherwise. However, many of us have guessed the reason. There has been an awakening down in the core of the Earth. A darker force than any you have seen before. I am aware that you faced Order last month, but he is nothing compared to this threat."

"So, for the good of all of you, I order a quest! A quest to the place where all the answers are. It may be able to save all of you. But beware, Apollo has foretold that if the 12 of you go on this quest, not all of you will return."

The booming voice of Athena went silent, leaving the campers in their shock.

"Who are the 12 demigods?" someone called out. Everyone turned their heads to look expectantly at the sphere. Athena said, "The Seven, Nico di Angelo, Reyna Arellano, Calypso, Will Solace and one other demigod. A daughter of Khione."

The Khione cabin started to speak in hushed whispers. One girl stepped forward. She had platinum blond hair and extremely pale skin, she spoke clearly, "I will go. I am Tracie Weatherhill. I will join the quest." Quiet claps came from the campers, but none from her cabin.

"No." To our shock, Athena forbade Tracie from going. "You are not worthy." The Khione kids looked around, before willingly pushing another girl forward. It was hard to believe that this girl was a daughter of Khione. Sure, she had the platinum blond hair and the pale as snow skin, but her eyes danced with warmth, cheer, and happiness, unlike her mother, the evil Khione, who was always cold, unloving and uncaring.

The girl looked nervous, "Er...My name is Josie Adkins...I accept the place in the quest." Cheers came from her cabin. She was obviously very popular, though I had never seen her before.

Suddenly, thunder shook the skies. In a hurried voice, Athena said, "Very well. Zeus senses my forbidden presence. With no prophecy to guide you. I have only this for you to start. Apollo himself foretold it."

"Travel to the place where it all began,

The place where one will make their stand.

The dove and owl protect them all,

From the sky and water's final fall.

To rise or die by the angel's hand,

Be lost or found by the leader's plan.

The fire and snow must get along,

Or everything may go all wrong.

The music and the healer comfort them all,

The jewel and war to answer the call.

They must quickly count their breaths,

For this will certainly end with death."

Silence. Quiet. No one spoke. Then being the Seaweed Brain that he is, Percy said, "That is probably the longest prophecy I have ever heard."

"Seriously, bro?" Jason raised his eyebrows and chuckled. Athena's voice came out again, "Stop squabbling. That is the new Great Prophecy. Good luck to all of you. You're going to need it."

With that, the shining light faded, the last of our connection to Olympus. From now on, we were on our own.